Page 100 - FLIPBOOK - Life of Saint Gerard Majella - Vassall-Phillips

O. R. VASSALL-PHILLIPS

story was related with much merriment for his special delectation.
Their surprise may be imagined when they were told that their
amusement proceeded from their ignorance of the gifts which God
had bestowed upon his companion. In order to clear Gerard from
conclusions injurious to his good sense and humility, which
otherwise must have been drawn from his late conduct, Father
Margotta proceeded to recount the tale of his virtues and miracles.
It was enough. Soon Calitri was all agog with excitement about the
marvellous wonder - worker whom Divine Providence had sent
amongst them.
An excellent medical man of the locality, Giovanne Cioglia by
name, was very ill. He had received the last Sacraments, and been
given up by the doctors. Saint Gerard was invited to go and see him.
At first he refused. In this refusal he persisted, until Father Margotta
brought his authority to bear in the matter. The Saint then went as he
was told. Finding the patient unconscious, he made the sign of the
Cross upon his forehead, when immediately the sick man recovered
the use of his senses, and found himself restored to perfect health.
The bystanders cried out: “A miracle!” but Gerard answered simply:
“Behold what obedience can do!”
A lady of Calitri discovered the sanctity of the Servant of God in a
singular manner. One day she had a violent headache. Happening to
be in the Priest's house, she saw Saint Gerard's hat in a corner of the
room.
“Let me see,” she said, half in earnest, half in jest, “whether this
Brother is the Saint that people say.”
She then put the hat on her own head. Immediately she was freed
from her headache.
This fact being noised abroad, some persons managed to induce
Gerard to accept a present of new shoes. They kept the old ones as a
relic. These shoes of Brother Gerard were for many a year lent from
house to house in Calitri, and numerous were the cures that God
granted to sick persons who used them with faith, imploring the
powerful intercession of His servant Gerard.
When Father Margotta's business was accomplished at Calitri, he
went straight to Naples. Onreturning once more to the spot that had
been the theatre of so many of his marvels, Saint Gerard was more
careful than ever to keep himself as far as possible in the background,
and avoid anything that might bring him again, without absolute

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